Carrier for transporting ski equipment

ABSTRACT

A device for transporting ski equipment such as a single set of skis and poles. The device includes a receiving member that receives the ski tails. The receiving member includes at least one wheel. The receiving member also preferably includes a pair of holes to receive the respective tips of a pair of ski poles. An elastic cord threads around the receiving member and across the bindings of the skis, holding the skis and poles together. A handle attached to the elastic cord provides a grip to pull the carrier and equipment. When not in use the elastic cord can be tucked into the receiving member. The carrier can be small enough to fit into an equipment bag or a locker. The carrier is designed to roll on hard surfaces and also has a curved underside to help it glide across snow. Skis and poles can stay strapped into the carrier and fit into car-top ski racks that are designed to hold skis that are arranged bottom-to-bottom.

TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a carrier for elongated items such as skis and ski poles. It relates more directly to such carriers that can be configured to be relatively compact when not in use.

Ski equipment is heavy and awkward. Dragging skis and poles to and from the slope has always been difficult and dangerous. Skis are typically as long as the skier and weigh (with bindings) fifteen to twenty pounds. Additionally, the steel edges of the skis are sharp and the ski pole tips are designed to stab through ice. In addition to the skis and poles, skiers heft ten-pound boots and usually an equipment bag. Many try to carry their kid's equipment too. Adding to the potential for injury is that some skiers carry their skis on their shoulders and can injure bystanders when the skis are swung about.

Many previous devices for carrying skis and poles were directed to carrying an entire group's gear in a transport bag. Other devices clipped on to the skis. Still others did not provide for transporting poles. Other prior art devices could not be easily stored or placed in a car-top ski rack, some were specifically designed for locking skis, some had complicated telescoping devices. In general, however, prior carriers were not compact and could not be easily manufactured.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This simple carrying device organizes skis and poles into a tidy unit that is easily pulled by one hand. Skiers young and old can easily drag their skis and poles over any terrain, because the device has wheels for hard surfaces and a curved undercarriage for snow, mud and other soft surfaces. The wheels are sized to be pulled up stairs without catching. And the whole package can be placed in a typical car-top ski rack because the device keeps the skis bottom-to-bottom.

The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of prior art devices by making it possible to configure a carrier that is light and compact. The device can also be manufactured quite easily. This device is especially useful for children and the elderly—two groups that shy away from skiing because the effort required getting their equipment onto the slope. Additionally, use of the device could reduce the number of “pre-slope” injuries caused by unwieldy equipment slung over shoulders.

Achieving these and other advantages are made possible by the present invention, which comprises a a receiving member dimensioned to receive the tail ends of a pair of skis, the receiving member having at least one wheel. A cord member is connected to the receiving member and adapted to secure the pair of skis to the receiving member and to each other. There is also a handle and means for means for attaching the cord to the handle.

The receiving member is preferably cup-shaped with an open end, a front wall, and a base opposite the open end. The receiving member preferably has at least two wheels respectively positioned to either side of the receiving member. The wheels are preferably positioned to protrude beyond the base of the receiving member.

In another aspect of the invention, the front walls and the base meet in a substantially continuous curve to form a curved undercarriage for the receiving member.

The receiving member may be formed of a single piece of sheet metal. It may also have aa tab with a pair of holes for respectively receiving the tips of a pair of ski poles. The tab may be integrally formed with the rest of the receiving member and arranged to apply a spring force to the ski poles when the ski poles are inserted.

The cord member is preferably an elastic cord. Means for attaching the cord member to the handle preferably includes a handle cord attached to the handle and operatively connected to the cord member. It may also include first and second carabineers each attached respectively to first and second ends of the cord member, the first and second carabineers being operatively connected to the handle cord, and a handle ring connected to the first and second carabineers and to the handle cord. The cord member preferably passes around at least a portion of the receiving member and around the skis.

Another aspect of the invention is a method of transporting ski equipment including a pair of skis, the method comprising the steps of providing a receiving member having a pair of wheels and adapted to receive only the tails of the skis, inserting the tails of the skis into the receiving member, providing a cord member, securing the skis to the receiving member and to each other using the cord member; providing a handle member, attaching the handle member to the cord member, and pulling the skis and the receiving member by pulling on the handle. In another aspect of the invention, where the ski equipment further includes a pair of ski poles, the receiving member further includes a tab with a pair of holes for respectively receiving the tips of the pair of ski poles, and the method further comprises the steps of inserting the tips into the holes prior to the securing step, and the securing step includes wrapping the cord member around the skis and ski poles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be readily understood from the following written description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carrier in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with a cord member and handle attached;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the carrier template laid flat;

FIG. 6 is a section view cut through the embodiment of FIG. 2 along the A-A section indicator line.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a receiving member for a carrier 10 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen, the carrier has a basket-shaped (i.e., cup-shaped) member 20 with an undercarriage 30. The carrier 10 also has a tab member 40 with two holes 50. In a preferred embodiment, the basket-shaped member 20 and the tab member 40 are integral with one another. There is also preferably a pair of notches 60 where the basket-shaped member 20 and the tab member 40 meet. Also, it is preferred that the area of the carrier 10 between the notches 60 be resilient to apply a positive spring bias to inserted ski poles so as to help maintain them in place.

As is also visible in FIG. 1, the carrier 10 also has at least one, and preferably a pair of, wheels 70 disposed adjacent and to either side of the undercarriage 30. These wheels 70 are preferably a hard elastomeric material that will facilitate movement of the carrier over hard surfaces. It will be understood that curving the undercarriage 30 as shown in the figure will facilitate movement of the carrier over snow. The undercarriage 30 also preferably has at least on drain hole to prevent the accumulation of water in the basket-shaped member 20. In the embodiment shown, the wheels 70 are connected by an axle 80 (shown in FIG. 2) capped with an axle cap 90. It will be appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art, however, that the wheels 70 could also be connected directly to the basket-shaped member 20.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the carrier 10 with an attached cord member 100. The cord member 100 passes through the notches on the basket-shaped member 20 and the tab member 40. The ends of the cord member 100 are pulled around the skis just above the binding toes and connected to a handle cord ring 110 with a respective fastening member 120. In the preferred embodiment, the fastening members 120 are carabineers. The hand cord ring 110 is also attached to one end of a handle cord 130. The handle cord 130 is attached to the handle 140 at the end of the handle cord 130 opposite the handle cord ring 110. FIG. 2 also shows how the ski poles slip through the ski pole holes 50 in the ski pole tongue tab member 40.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 3 details how the cord member 100 crosses and wraps the skis and hooks across the top of the binding toe using the fastening members 120. The cord member 100 is preferably a single length of cord with a fastening member 120 at each of its ends. The fastening members 120 clip to the hand cord ring 110

FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 also show how the wheels 70 are dimensioned to project below the undercarriage 30 so that the carrier 10 can be pulled upstairs without catching. These figures also show how the cord member 100 fits in the notches 60 where the basket-shaped member 20 and the tab member 40 meet, and how the ski pole tips slip through the holes 50 in the tab member 40.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the basket-shaped member 20 without skis or poles, and shows how the axle 80 passes through the side walls of the basket-shaped member 20 and is secured to the bottom of the basket-shaped member 20 with “U” shaped axle mount bolts 140. Also shown are the ski pole holes 50 that are cut through the tab 40.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a template for forming the basket-shaped member 20 from a single piece of sheet metal. The ski pole holes 50 are shown in the tab 40 and the axle holes 150 are shown in the curved end of the side walls.

FIG. 6 is a cross section through the basket-shaped member 20 taken along line A-A of FIG. 2, illustrating how the sheet metal is folded. The under carriage 30 is designed to glide over snow.

It will be readily understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that the dimensions of the carrier components can be whatever is suitable to hold the skis and poles securely but without adding excessive size and weight. In a presently preferred embodiment, the preferred dimensions for the basket-shaped member 20 are 2″ deep by 4″ tall by 5″ long. The basket-shaped member's curved undercarriage 30 has a radius of 1″. The tab 40 projects 2½″ with the cord notch 60 taking ½″ of that. The holes 50 cut through the tab 40 are ½″ in diameter. The tab edges have a 1″ radius. The wheels 70 are 4″ in diameter. The axle 80 is 7⅝″ long by 5/16″ in diameter, with axle caps 90 that are ½″ in diameter. The cord 100 is 5′ long, but could be adjusted to fit skis of varying lengths. The fastening clips 120 are 2″ by 1″ with a thickness of ⅛″. The handle cord ring 110 is 1″ in diameter and ⅛″ thick. The handle cord 130 is 6″ long. The handle 140 is 4″ long by 1″ in diameter. Again, however, these dimensions are merely examples, and it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that other dimensions could work as well.

Regarding materials of construction, it is presently preferred to use a bendable but durable sheet metal such as 28 ga. galvanized sheet steel for the bucket, cut as per the template and bent into the shape shown in the perspective drawing. It will be appreciated by one having skill in the art that suitably painted metal could be used instead of galvanized metal. Also, the basket-shaped member could be formed by some other method such as being deep-drawn. It is presently preferred to use ½″ dia. commercially available bungee cord for the cord member, and a stainless steel ring to connect the nylon handle cord to the aluminum carabineers. It should also be noted that it is possible to avoid the use of a ring altogether and loop the handle cord onto one of the carabineers and then clip the other carabineer to the first carabineer. It is presently preferred to use commercially available, hard rubber wheels (such as scooter wheels), steel axle and steel axle caps.

In operation, the bucket-shaped member 20 receives the tail end of the skis. The tab 40 is bent down and the tips of the ski polls are inserted into the two holes 50 in the tab 40, and aligned with the sides of the skis. The mid point of the cord member 100 is then slipped through the slots on either side of the tab 40, and stretched across the skis and to the side of the skis opposite the tab 40. The cord member 100 is then pulled up and crossed over the toe of the ski bindings. Then the cord member 100 is pulled back around the skis and clipped to its own other end by means of a carabineer 120, again just above the toe of the bindings. A handle 140 is then secured to the same clip by means of a clip ring 110 and the device is ready to pull. Of course, this is a presently preferred method of securing the skis together with the poles in the carrier. It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that other arrangements for using a cord to secure the arrangement could be used. The point is that the cord, elastic or not, holds the skis together.

Because the wheels 70 are large enough in comparison to the bucket-shaped member 20 that they protrude below its base, the device can roll over any hard surface and up stairs. The device glides across snow, slush and mud because the undercarriage 30 is curved similarly to the tip of a ski. Since the device keeps skis and poles tight together bottom-to-bottom, it does not have to be removed to be set in a car-top ski rack.

This invention has been described herein in several embodiments. It is evident that there are many alternatives and variations that can embrace transporting ski equipment enhanced by the present invention in its various embodiments without departing from the intended spirit and scope thereof. The embodiments described above are exemplary only. One skilled in the art may recognize variations from the embodiments specifically described here, which are intended to be within the scope of this disclosure. As such, the invention is limited only by the following claims. Thus is intended that the present invention cover the modifications of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. Apparatus comprising: a receiving member dimensioned to receive the tail ends of a pair of skis, said receiving member having at least one wheel; a cord member connected to the receiving member and adapted to secure said pair of skis to said receiving member and to each other; a handle; means for attaching said cord to said handle.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said receiving member is cup-shaped with an open end, a front wall, and a base opposite said open end.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said receiving member has at least two wheels respectively positioned to either side of said receiving member.
 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said at least two wheels are positioned to protrude beyond said base of said receiving member.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said front walls and said base meet in a substantially continuous curve to form a curved undercarriage for said receiving member.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said receiving member is formed of a single piece of sheet metal.
 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said receiving member has a tab with a pair of holes for respectively receiving the tips of a pair of ski poles.
 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said tab is integrally formed with said receiving member.
 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said tab applies a spring force to said ski poles when said ski poles are inserted.
 10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cord member is an elastic cord.
 11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for attaching said cord member to said handle includes a handle cord attached to said handle and operatively connected to said cord member.
 12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said means for attaching said cord member to said handle includes a first and second carabineers each attached respectively to first and second ends of said cord member, said first and second carabineers being operatively connected to said handle cord.
 13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said means for said cord member to said handle further includes a handle ring connected to said first and second carabineers and to said handle cord.
 14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cord member is adapted to pass around at least a portion of said receiving member and around said skis.
 15. A method of transporting ski equipment including a pair of skis, said method comprising the steps of: providing a receiving member having a pair of wheels and adapted to receive only the tails of said skis; inserting said tails of said skis into said receiving member; providing a cord member; securing said skis to the receiving member and to each other using said cord member; providing a handle member; attaching said handle member to said cord member; and pulling said skis and said receiving member by pulling on said handle.
 16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein ski equipment further includes a pair of ski poles, and wherein said receiving member further includes a tab with a pair of holes for respectively receiving the tips of said pair of ski poles, wherein said method further comprises the steps of: inserting said tips into said holes prior to said securing step; and wherein said securing step includes wrapping said cord member around said skis and ski poles. 